THE man in charge of its implementation says the council is making 'real progress' with its scheme to charge for car parking in the town centre.

At a meeting last week, members of a special sub-committee dealing with the red-hot issue asked a firm of specialist consultants to examine various options for how it will be done.

And chairman, Councillor Stewart Hayward, says the company has been asked to report back by his committee's next meeting on June 18.

The council's own technical services team came up with three alternative charging schemes.

Two of these are based on the first hour being free on either the main market car park, or on that car park and the one behind Asda, rising in regular increments to either #1.50 or #2.50 for all-day parking.

Third option sees the first hour at all car parks costing 20p, rising to an all-day charge of #2.50 in the main market area.

However, Cllr Hayward says the consultants, whose study is costing #6,600, have also been actively encouraged to come up with their own suggestions for how the charges might be implemented, based on their wide experience of working with councils across the country.

Apart from the scale of charges they will also be asked to suggest which method of running the car parks is best manned barriers or pay and display.

Cllr Hayward said: 'We have had some constructive meetings with town centre traders and I feel we are now making real progress.

'We have taken on board a lot of their concerns, particularly the point they raised about waiting until after their busy pre-Christmas period to implement the scheme.

'We have agreed that proper enforcement of the scheme is vital and it could be that traffic wardens will be asked to patrol the car parks as part of their other duties.'

He added: 'There has been a lot of hype about this scheme, including suggestions that it will destroy the town centre. But what would the council get out of that?

'Although its introduction is partly to do with financial considerations, it is mainly about providing a safe and secure parking environment which will attract more shoppers into the town centre not less.'